Princess Diana was the Original Wimbledon It Girl

Sunnies and shaggy cuts forever.

Princess Diana pulling down her sunglasses in a peach top at Wimbledon
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Wimbledon tennis championships have always been a prime time for royal watching, and in the 1980s, Princess Diana was a regular fixture at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Today, fans eagerly await to see what Princess Kate wears in the royal box each year, but back then, it was Diana who stole the fashion spotlight.

Whether she was attending matches with Sarah Ferguson, Prince William, or her mother, Frances Shand Kydd, the late royal showed off her signature style in tennis whites, structured suits and statement sunglasses. Diana also attended matches in the royal box ahead of her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles, cementing her status as a Wimbledon style influencer before she was an official princess.

Ahead, see some of Diana's best Wimbledon moments through the years.

1981

Princess Diana and her sister standing up clapping at Wimbledon

Lady Diana Spencer and Lady Sarah Spencer are seen at Wimbledon in 1981.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Just weeks before she married Prince Charles, Lady Diana Spencer joined her sister, Sarah, and the Duchess of Kent at the 1981 Wimbledon championships. The future Princess of Wales went with a very tenniscore look for the occasion, wearing a pleated white skirt with a frilly white blouse, adding a pop of color with a quilted pink blazer.

1987

Princess Diana clapping in a yellow blazer at Wimbledon

Princess Diana is seen at Wimbledon in 1987.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Butter yellow might have swept the spring/summer trend lists in 2025, but in the '80s, Diana was the OG fan of the sunny color. Case in point: She was seen cheering at a women's match in 1987 while wearing an oversized yellow blazer and crisp blue button-up.

1987

Princess Diana wearing a pink dress and white sunglasses at Wimbledon 1987

Princess Diana is seen at Wimbledon in 1987.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

What could be more Diana than a pie crust collar? The princess paired a bright pink floral dress with oversized, quintessentially '80s white sunglasses as she took in the action at a men's match during the 1987 championships.

1991

Prince William in a navy suit and Princess Diana, in a purple blazer, standing next to each other at Wimbledon 1991

Prince William and Princess Diana are seen at Wimbledon in 1991.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Like Princess Kate did years later, Diana went for Wimbledon purple at the 1991 women's final, wearing a belted violet blazer over a pleated white skirt. A 9-year-old Prince William joined his mom for his first Wimbledon match that day, with the little prince dressed up in a navy blazer and tie for the occasion.

1993

Princess Diana and Frances Shand Kydd at the 1993 Wimbledon championships

Frances Shand Kydd and Princess Diana are seen at Wimbledon in 1993.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Diana brought her mom for a fun day out at Wimbledon in 1993, inviting Frances Shand Kydd into the royal box for the men's final. Along with a pair of tortoise shell sunglasses, a thick gold chain and pearl button earrings, the princess wore a silky peach blouse under a matching blazer, which she took off during the sunny match.

1994

Princess Diana wearing a red shirt dress with gold buttons

Princess Diana is seen at Wimbledon in 1994.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

After her 1992 separation from Prince Charles, Diana went for a bolder take on Wimbledon fashion. She was a lady in red in 1994, wearing a sleek shirt dress with gold buttons and chunky gold earrings to the Wimbledon men's final.

1995

Princess Diana wearing a pale yellow skirt suit talking to the Duke of Kent at Wimbledon

Princess Diana and the Duke of Kent are seen at Wimbledon in 1995.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It was butter yellow for the win again when Diana wore a tailored skirt suit to the Wimbledon men's final in 1995. She paired her summery suit with a bold pearl choker and her favorite pearl button earrings, along with a very mid-'90s pair of round sunglasses.

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Kristin Contino
Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.